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Portrait of Kevin Allen, head of the Office of Citizen Complaints, in front of City Hall. SInce he is often in the middle of controversy steam coming from a vent in the street provided the ideal atmosphere . This is for the cop project. If there's anyway to also convey the OCC in the photo, that'd be great. I asked Kevin if there's a big sign or something saying OCC but he says the office is very inconspicuous. Photographer:� Eric Luse / The Chronicle MANDATORY CREDIT FOR PHOTOG AND SF CHRONICLE/ -MAGS OUT

Photo: Eric Luse

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Portrait of Kevin Allen, head of the Office...

SAN FRANCISCO / Leader of police watchdog group steps down / Allen led charge on several high-profile misconduct cases

The head of San Francisco's civilian police watchdog agency said Thursday that he will resign his post, citing health problems.

Kevin Allen, 39, a former city public defender appointed to run the Office of Citizen Complaints in 2003, has missed several recent Police Commission meetings because of chronic respiratory problems. But his departure also comes on the eve of what is expected to be a scathing audit of his agency by the city controller's office, due out this month.

Allen said Thursday that he suffers from sleep deprivation brought on by a breathing-related disorder, sleep apnea. He said that he needs to be treated for the difficulties immediately and that the stress of his $100,000-a-year executive director's job may have worsened his health.

"They need someone who can focus all their attention," Allen said. "It is the best for the agency to let someone else step in."

Allen notified his staff by e-mail of his decision and the Police Commission in person Wednesday night. He plans to consult on the city audit before leaving Feb. 7.

"The agency itself is a wonderful, good place to work," Allen said. "I have enjoyed working with everyone here."

The Office of Citizen Complaints investigates allegations of officer misconduct lodged by members of the public. If it decides discipline may be warranted, it forwards a case to the chief of police. If the chief does not act, the agency can lodge charges directly with the Police Commission.

Allen has overseen the agency during its largest investigation ever, the probe of alleged misconduct during the Police Department's investigation into the 2002 street brawl between three off-duty officers and two civilians that started over a bag of fajitas. Hearings involving several officers are still pending.

Allen quietly but repeatedly clashed with Police Chief Heather Fong, who has been reluctant to sign off on disciplinary cases to submit them to the Police Commission.

In the end, Allen took several high-profile cases directly to the commission, most recently against four officers charged with misconduct during the 2004 pursuit and fatal shooting in the Western Addition of an attempted-kidnapping suspect, Cammerin Boyd. A San Francisco judge threw out the charges in May because the agency had not given Fong a chance to consider the case. Allen's office recently refiled the charges over the chief's objection.

City Controller Ed Harrington began an audit of Allen's agency last year at the request of the Police Commission. Commission President Louise Renne said the audit, evaluating the efficiency and quality of the Office of Citizen Complaints' work, was part of the commission's oversight duties.

Allen said Thursday that he has not seen the final report. But according to those familiar with the audit, several members of Allen's staff complained of problems in the agency, including a lack of leadership.

Renne said she expects the audit to be helpful when officials consider a replacement for Allen. "If there are problems at the OCC, and I personally think that there are, not all the problems can be laid at the foot of the executive director," Renne said. "I suspect that there is plenty of blame to go all around."

Renne said Allen is a "good, decent man."

"I really wish Kevin well," she said. "I think he is doing the right thing by stepping down now, to get his health under control. I say to his credit, he really wanted to make sure OCC in the future ran well. It's an important job. Because of his health, he simply wasn't up to it."

Renne said the commission will appoint an interim director and screen candidates for a permanent replacement. The panel will then submit names to Mayor Gavin Newsom, who will select one for ratification by the Board of Supervisors.